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Thursday, 27 April 2017

Christian Eriksen kept Tottenham's title hopes alive with a crucial strike to sink Crystal Palace 1-0.
The Dane rescued Spurs with a long-range drive 12 minutes from time to ensure they remain four points behind leaders Chelsea.
Tottenham had endured a tough few days, losing the FA Cup semi-final
to the Blues on Saturday before Antonio Conte's side beat Southampton
4-2 to stay in control at the top.
They desperately needed a pick-me-up at Selhurst Park to keep their
season alive, but that was never going to be easy against an in-form
Palace side looking to add them to the scalps of Chelsea, Arsenal and
Liverpool this month alone.
Their usually deadly front two of Harry Kane and Dele Alli were kept
quiet by a Palace rearguard marshalled superbly by the returning Mamadou
Sakho.
But when Sakho was forced off injured midway through the second half,
Spurs sensed their chance and Eriksen's eighth goal of the season keeps
them in touch at the top with five games to go.
It was a different story in the first half, though, with the visitors
looking tentative and without the swagger of their previous seven
straight league victories.
Indeed it was Palace, on the back of six wins in eight games which
lifted them away from relegation trouble, who created the clearer
chances.
Former Spurs winger Andros Townsend almost set up an opener for the
hosts when he skipped in between Toby Alderweireld and Eric Dier before
slipping in Christian Benteke, whose low shot was kept out by Hugo
Lloris.
The lively Townsend went close himself shortly before the interval,
keeping his feet despite being clipped by Jan Vertonghen before
unleashing a 20-yard drive which flew narrowly over.
Frustrated Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino made a double change at the
interval, replacing both his central midfielders, Mousa Dembele and
Victor Wanyama - who was lucky to still be on the pitch after escaping a
second yellow card for a clumsy foul on Townsend - with Son Heung-min
and Moussa Sissoko.
Alli, who scored a memorable flick, turn and volley in this fixture
last season, had to wait until 10 minutes into the second half for his
first sight of goal but this time could only drag his shot wide.
But, worryingly for Palace Sakho, who has played such an instrumental
role in their climb away from relegation trouble, was hurt in the
build-up and forced to depart on a stretcher.
Suddenly Palace were on the back foot and should have fallen behind
when Alli met Kyle Walker's cross three yards out, only to sidefoot his
effort across goal and wide.
But with time running down Eriksen collected Kane's pass some 30
yards out and lashed a powerful drive inside the far post to keep Spurs
in the title hunt.